Trillium Partners is pleased to announce that it has acted as the exclusive financial adviser to UBM plc (UBM) on the disposal of a diverse portfolio of leading B2B brands comprising: Building, Building Design and Venuefinder (Building); Technology for Marketing, eCommerce Expo and Top 50 Companies (Customer Technology); and The Care & Dementia Show (Care). Managing a complex multi-asset disposal, Trillium helped achieve UBM’s objective of exiting from these non-core business areas.   

The Building portfolio comprises Building and Building Design, leading B2B media brands covering the UK Built Environment, construction supply chains and architectural design. The portfolio delivers respected print and online content, events and marketing services. Venuefinder.com is a leading online venue management tool used by professional event organisers and meeting planners. The Building portfolio was acquired by Assemble Media Group for an undisclosed price.

The Customer Technology portfolio comprises the Technology for Marketing (TFM) and eCommerce Expo (ECE) trade exhibitions and the Top 50 Companies for Customer Service (Top 50) awards show. TFM is the UK’s leading B2B exhibition for marketing technology and allows marketers to understand the latest in technology-powered marketing and digital advertising solutions and services. ECE is the UK’s biggest B2B exhibition for buyers and suppliers of ecommerce technology and services, covering the entire transactional process from online platforms, marketing, payments to delivery and logistics. Top 50 is a research and awards programme recognising customer service excellence. CloserStill Media (CloserStill) and IMRG jointly acquired the Customer Technology portfolio for an undisclosed consideration.

The Care & Dementia Show, a healthcare B2B event that serves UK residential care providers and the wider care community of homecare, NHS, housing providers and construction professionals, was also acquired by CloserStill for an undisclosed amount.

Trillium Partners: (1) advised on sale strategy and tactics for a complex, multi-asset portfolio disposal; (2) positioned the different businesses for sale and assisted in the preparation of marketing collateral; (3) identified prospective trade and private equity buyers for each brand; (4) led negotiations with prospective buyers and advised on the selection of buyers; (5) coordinated a full due diligence process and various legal and accounting work streams; and (6) assisted in documenting the transaction.

Neil Mepham, Head of M&A at UBM, commented:
“I am pleased that the Building, Customer Technology and Care portfolios have found new homes that will facilitate their continued growth and development. Trillium provided high quality advice and managed the sale process with the highest level of professionalism.”

Stephen Routledge, Managing Director at Trillium, commented:
“We are delighted to have advised on the sale of these highly regarded B2B brands. The unique nature of the portfolio with different brands and business models allowed us to leverage our extensive strategic and private equity buyer network to find the right owners for these businesses. We are pleased to have advised UBM on this complex disposal which further demonstrates Trillium’s expertise in providing M&A advice to Information & Events businesses.”

About Trillium Partners

Trillium Partners is an independent mid-market firm that advises listed companies, private firms and financial sponsors on M&A and Private Capital raising transactions valued at £20 million to £500 million in the B2B Information Services and Events, Consumer Media, Learning and Development, and Marketing Services.

Over the last 30 years, we have advised our clients on a comprehensive array of transactions in the UK, Europe, USA and Asia, with an aggregate value in excess of £10 billion. Underpinned by deep sector knowledge and insight, our expertise extends from private acquisitions and disposals to public offers and raising capital from the private equity, family office, banking and alternative finance communities for working capital, business development, acquisitions and buy-outs.

Trillium transaction team
Stephen Routledge (Managing Director)
Andrew Zelouf (Director)
David Leung (Associate Director)
Nikhil Raghavan (Analyst)

For more information regarding this transaction, please contact Stephen Routledge or Andrew Zelouf on +44 (0)20 3008 8375